A Tale Of The Tail

The 2nd day of Essex vs Hampshire at Chelmsford began with Essex in a bit of bother at 72-5, still 125 runs behind Hampshire's first innings total. The day didn't begin well as James Tomlinson forced Ben Foakes to edge one to keeper Adam Wheater for 20, though it took a 2nd appeal to convince the umpire, 73-6.
James Foster and Alistair Cook then carried on the recovery at a slow pace as the Hampshire bowling swarmed around them and 100 came and went, then Foster played a nothing perod to Danny Briggs to chip the ball straight back to him for 25, 117-7. Graham Napier and Cook took Essex to lunch, Cook reaching his 50 from 131 balls.
Cook was out soon after lunch, LBW to Tomlinson for 59 and 156-8, still 41 behind as Tim Phillips joined Napier. The pair swung to came towards Essex, repelling the bowlers and finding a regular supply of boundaries, including Napier's six off Briggs into the pavilion. They brought Essex the lead, and then the 200 with Napier reaching his 2nd fifty of the season from 81 balls. The runs were now flowing, and the first ball of the new ball was cracked by Napier to Carberry at point who fielded sharply, returned the ball before then wringing his hand from the pain. It was almost a surprise when Chris Wood managed to get some movement to have Napier LBW for 74 with the score on 243 with only Topley (average of pretty much nothing) to come. A couple of hits from Phillips gained the 2nd batting point before Topley edged Briggs to short leg where Shaun Ervine took a sharp catch, 254 all out a lead of 57 with Phillips 40 not out and Hampshire's 2nd innings to begin after tea.
Hampshire began cautiously, with the accurate bowling of David Masters and Topley tying them down a little when Master induced the edge off Carberry where Ben Foakes took a reaction catch above his head at short leg for 2, 14-1. Master then got his 2nd next over, Adams LBW for 9 as Essex looked like they might blast through the batting that evening. Liam Dawson and George Bailey held firm, however, and they whittled down the defecit before taking Hampshire safely to close 20 ahead on 77-2, Bailey on 26, Dawson on 31.